Dash Cams

Davidg · 02-02-2016, 09:15 AM

Long story long, I had an uninsured gal back into my new truck recently. When I got out to look at the dent in my bumper, she told me she had no insurance. When I told her to wait, and I would call the police, she took off like a scared rabbit. I did get the tag number and provided that info to the police. I was fortunate that there was a construction site just across from the incident, and two fellows came over and gave a statement to the cop about what happened. The policeman was a nice fellow, and told me that they would be contacting her about the hit and run because that was against the law.
He also told me that there were teams of people where the car in front would back into someone in a nice vehicle, and there would be someone else behind that would get out and testify that the driver in the nice vehicle had hit the one in front. Then the front car would claim injury and settle with the insurance co for many thousands $. It's a scam, and the officer said he had worked accidents and recognized the front vehicle from a previous wreck.
Anyway, if you are caught in this, you wind up with a wreck on your record and higher insurance rates even though you are innocent.
As a result of this incident, I am looking at dash cams so I will have a video record. Does anyone else use a dash cam and which one do you use?

**Flybob** · 02-02-2016, 09:29 AM

Check state laws. Some states prohibit a video screen that is visible from the drivers position.

xgzx · 02-02-2016, 10:03 AM

I just recently installed 2 dash cams; one in my daily driver, and one in my wife's car. Model HP F500. I also bought an extra power cord so I can transfer one of the cameras to our Sunseeker when we travel. The model I use turns on and off with the vehicle, has a shock sensor that automatically saves the video if there is an accident, and the screen turns off 3 minutes after starting, so that it does not distract the driver, a small red LED continues to blink, letting you know it is recording. It's pretty much set and forget, which is what I was looking for.

KFX450RXC · 02-02-2016, 10:12 AM

I use a Garmin I bought at Best Buy. Can't recall the model number. Less than $200 on sale.

But as for a video in front of the driver, the screen goes almost completely dark in less than a minute unless you touch a button to turn it back on. So its not a distraction.

spock123 · 02-02-2016, 12:29 PM

I have a dash cam and it stays on from the time you turn the vehicle on. Mine will not take a temperature more than 130 degrees, I usually take dash cam with me when I leave the vehicle. It's for front only and sides, it's mounted under the rear view mirror. It records 8 hours before it starts to rite over

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Davidg · 02-02-2016, 02:21 PM

Spock, which brand/model of dashcam
do you use?

blwnsmoke · 02-02-2016, 02:35 PM

I did a review on one that I really like. Well worth the money.

https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/review-lukas-9370.16177/

larryo · 02-02-2016, 02:45 PM

GPS units and dash cams by law must be mounted in the upper most corner of the drivers side window. Mine are located on the LOWER left corner. I've had many DOT inspections and have never had a problem, but I know one driver who got a ticket for just that.

spock123 · 02-02-2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo

GPS units and dash cams by law must be mounted in the upper most corner of the drivers side window. Mine are located on the LOWER left corner. I've had many DOT inspections and have never had a problem, but I know one driver who got a ticket for just that.

Mine are in the middle of windshield, Garmin is on a beanbag mount.

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blwnsmoke · 02-02-2016, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo

GPS units and dash cams by law must be mounted in the upper most corner of the drivers side window. Mine are located on the LOWER left corner. I've had many DOT inspections and have never had a problem, but I know one driver who got a ticket for just that.

I would not make such a blanket statement like that. Every state has their own laws.. there is no law in NH regarding placement of a dashcam.

spock123 · 02-02-2016, 03:00 PM

My dash cam is a kdlinks X1 Full-HD I ordered it from Amazon

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Total Loss · 02-02-2016, 06:26 PM

$80 at Costco.
I don't leave home without it now.
I am an insurance inspector and I see all the scams.
I actually considered putting another facing rearward in my company car.
I keep mine behind the rear view mirror- forget it's there- except for the wire hanging down.

If a cop is going to pull me over for that, I will just tell him I am helping them do their job.

AquaMan · 02-02-2016, 06:39 PM

I just bought a Transcend 220. I'll give it a review when I get it. Was going to get the 200, but found the 220 for just a little more with 2x the memory and a case.

emm-dee · 02-02-2016, 06:50 PM

I have forward and aft facing cams in all my vehicles. Plus, the rear observation camera records the last six hours of action.

larryo · 02-02-2016, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blwnsmoke

I would not make such a blanket statement like that. Every state has their own laws.. there is no law in NH regarding placement of a dashcam.

Nation wide DOT regulations state top right hand corner. I don't know if this holds true for dash cams,

Davidg · 02-02-2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Total Loss

$80 at Costco.
I don't leave home without it now.
I am an insurance inspector and I see all the scams.
I actually considered putting another facing rearward in my company car.
I keep mine behind the rear view mirror- forget it's there- except for the wire hanging down.
If a cop is going to pull me over for that, I will just tell him I am helping them do their job.

What kind of dash cam do you use?

Oaklevel · 02-02-2016, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo

GPS units and dash cams by law must be mounted in the upper most corner of the drivers side window. Mine are located on the LOWER left corner. I've had many DOT inspections and have never had a problem, but I know one driver who got a ticket for just that.

Not true in Virginia GPS unit can not be mounted to the windshield period. It can buy you a ticket ESP if you are already being stopped. I assume it could be the same for a dash cam.

Can be mounted elsewhere though.

emm-dee · 02-02-2016, 08:05 PM

For those interested in getting a dash cam...be very careful. There is a lot of junk and knockoffs out there, especially on eBay.

I have six of the G1WH units. Cheap, great video quality (and audio if you want), and very easy to set. After getting a couple of the knockoff units through eBay (took forever to get my money back and the reason I never buy anything there now) I went direct to the distributor. Fast shipping and great support. G1WH 1080P Car Dash Camera HD

emm-dee · 02-02-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Not true in Virginia GPS unit can not be mounted to the windshield period. It can buy you a ticket ESP if you are already being stopped. I assume it could be the same for a dash cam.

Can be mounted elsewhere though.

Mine are mounted in front of the rear view mirror and not at all visible from the drivers seat. Even the power supply cord is invisible because it drops down from the forward headliner about two inches from the camera.

Davidg · 02-02-2016, 09:38 PM

I noticed that several dash cams have built in gps. I get that the gps provides location data, but how does that benefit ?

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